The OAK Initiative UK CIC, supported by the University of Bradford, QM Records, and African communities within Bradford, has announced the debut of the Bradford African Festival of Arts (BAFA), set to be held on the 19th and 20th of July 2024 at Centenary Square, Bradford.
The two-day cultural event is set to entertain the Bradford community and West Yorkshire with a showcase of the beauty of African culture in diverse music, dance, drama, cuisine, and more.
The Bradford African Festival of Arts (BAFA) is not just a cultural celebration but also a catalyst for economic growth. By drawing in visitors and promoting tourism, the festival is set to give a significant boost to the local economy.
The dynamic marketplace, a key feature of the event, will be a treasure trove of authentic African crafts, textiles, and culinary delights.
This presents a golden opportunity for local businesses and artisans to showcase their products and thrive, further enhancing the economic landscape of Bradford.
The Bradford African Festival of Arts (BAFA), endorsed by the local council as part of the Bradford City of Culture 2025 celebrations, is more than just a cultural event.
It is a platform for cross-cultural dialogue, promoting inclusivity, and reinforcing Bradford’s reputation as a diverse and welcoming city.
The festival provides a stage for local talents to shine alongside international performers, fostering a sense of pride and community spirit that is synonymous with the city of Bradford.
“We are setting ambitious targets to challenge ourselves, to bring and set even more culture loose, into every corner of the City of Bradford, come next year when Bradford will be the city of culture.”
Dr Olushola Kolawole (OAK), the Festival Director and the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead for the University of Bradford, School of Management, is working together with leaders of other African communities such as Zimbabwe, Ghana, Cameroon, Malawi, the Caribbean, and other partners to ensure the diversity of African culture in this multicultural city that has been home to diverse expressions of memorable events and heritage.
Co-curator Kafayat Adegoke of Art Empathy and Curiosities CIC is guided by regenerative principles and shares the same vision and values as BAFA.
In her dual arts sector capacity as a British theatre maker/dancer and a cultural leader, she was instrumental in the current UK City of Culture 2025 win of the Bradford district.
She sits firmly on the Bradford Producing Hub Creativity Council while pushing her voice in undoing gatekeeping within the arts sector and delivering real diversity—not only race (as popular opinion seems to lean on that phrase) but also inclusive access for all creatives living with unseen disabilities. Kafayat believes it is time to develop a new narrative around equality, away from deficit models.
Oluwatosin Omotola Ajayi will be playing the talking drum, or Gangan, to welcome the Lord Mayor to the event.
The talking drum, or “Gangan” among the Yoruba people, is a powerful emblem of African heritage. Omotola’s performance aims to entertain and educate the audience about the cultural significance of the talking drum in Yoruba tradition.
We are confident that this event will foster a greater understanding of African culture among attendees and tourists, encourage participation from people in underrepresented communities in the creative and cultural sector, and contribute to the social and economic growth of the city.
The festival kicks off on Friday, July 19, 2024, with the opening ceremony in the Bright Building, University of Bradford.
The Leeds Trinity University Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Egbu, will speak on the theme, “My culture, My heritage.” After the opening ceremony, there will be an exhibition of the African continent by Ruth Agbolade.
After the exhibition, the event will move to the Theatre in the Mill for drama and stage play performances. These will include the performance of “Esther’s Revenge,” a stage play written and directed by Kenneth Uphopho, and drama performance by Chris Ihuewa, one of the most prolific actors from the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood (a portmanteau of Nigeria and the American major film hub, Hollywood).
The Saturday event starts at 10 am with market stalls, while the main event will begin at 12 noon.
The closing event on Saturday will feature a live music performance by our headliner, the Dele Sosimi Quartet, to round off the evening after our local performers.
Dele Sosimi, from the early years of his career at the young age of 15, heralded the rhythm section of the Nigerian Afrobeat genre originator and social-change activist Fela Kuti’s collective, which served to catapult him into the upper echelons of the World Music category elite.
To this day, his grooves and unrelenting spirit are a true reflection of his complex sound fusions of jazz, metal, horns, and hybrid fiery percussion that cut across the African diaspora demographic.
Each performance offers a powerful cultural sound that keeps a space alight, evokes feelings of freedom, and serves as a dynamic balm for life-changing encounters.
Dele Sosimi was also the Afrobeat music consultant and keyboardist for the British National Theatre’s world-acclaimed West End Broadway production of “Fela!”
Confirmed dignitaries attending BAFA include the Lord Mayor of Bradford, the Lord Mayor of Kirklees, and the Lord Mayor of Leeds, to mention a few. Also in attendance will be senior executives of the University of Bradford: Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Professor Udy Archibong, and Professor Emeseh Engobo, the Interim Dean of the Faculty of Management, Law, and Social Sciences.
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